RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

LOL!!! Isn't that the truth.

RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

With the improved fuel economy I find in summer blends, I wonder if we are better off $$$ wise.

RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

Don't forget that gas pricing is based on refining capacity not raw crude volume, and there have been no new refineries built in 10 years, so the best way to keep prices high is to reduce capacity therfore increasing demand for less capacity, most of the gas we use is refined in Louisiana and Texas and is trucked to the rest of the Continent.
In Canada the Provincial government of Newfoundland is petitioning the federal government to allow the Provincial government of Newfoundland the right to cancel oil recource licences (drilling and pumping) if the oil company holding the licence does not exploit the reserve within 20 years. What this means is if the oil company has found oil and does not get it out of the ground in 20 years they lose their claim on the reserve.
This is happening all over the world, there are plenty of oil resources but in order to keep prices high they are not being exploited.
Most of the oil we use in north america comes from north america itself, not the middle east as some people believe.

RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

I don't get it either. I thought the war was so we could steal all the oil. Whatever happened to that idea? It sure sounded good to me.

RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

Yeah hear you that is true! arent we the ones guarding it?!

RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

Actually, I believe it has been close to 30 years since a new refinery was built. There are plenty of places where we could drill in the states. There is supposed to be oil in Colorado and someother states in that area. We need more refineries and we need to start doing more drilling. Uncle Sam needs to get out of the way of doing this because these prices are redicilous. Ethanol is too much a long term solution for now and it isn't that cost effective. It cost more to operate a FFV vehicle on E85 than it does to run regular gasoline. 10% blends work beautifully, that is always what I use, but we need to improve oil production.

BOOSS, I hope your joking. If we wanted Iraq's oil, all we had to do was lift the sanctions on them.

RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

Forget oil......how about Hydrogen from water. Maybe we will have a Challenger running off of Aquagen. Look at this article:

Water Could One Day Replace Gas

Tuesday, May 23, 2006; Posted: 3:10 PM(CDT)

High prices at the pump have left everyone wondering if there's another way to power our cars, trucks and SUV's.

Some people have figured out ways to use vegetable oil, or other products to fuel their vehicles. Well, now there may be a new solution.

It's called "Aquagen." A Florida company is currently testing the new gas, which they make from mixing water and electricity. The process of mixing water with electicity is called electrolysis.

Denny Klein, from Hydrogen Technologies, says he originally planned to use his machine for welding, but when gas prices spiked he decided to try something new in his car.

And now he has a "different" kind of hybrid. His Ford Escort runs on a combination of gas and water. As he drives down the road the water turns to gas, powering the vehicle and using half the normal amount of gasoline.

Here's how it works: The machine runs voltage throughout the water, creating gas. The gas is cooled in another compartment, then dried. Once it's dried, you have a gas that is ready to burn.

What's unusual about Aquagen is that the hydrogen and oxygen stay connected. So you get the atomic power of hydrogen with the chemical stability of water.

Klein says, the water molecule is restructured when a tremendous amount of energy is mixed with a catalyst.

Aquagen stays at a consistent heat until it's mixed with something else, creating a reaction. The gas heats to the melting point of whatever it touches. It can burn a hole through charcoal, slice steel, and turn a brass ball to liquid. It also reacts to gasoline, helping run an engine before turning back to water.

Klein says the technology isn't new. He says others have tried it, but they used so much electricity that their inventions never took off.

But managers at Klein's company think they have improved, maybe even perfected the process.

Klein says, "We estimate it costs around $0.70 per hour to generate, and it produces 1,500 liters of aquagen per hour."

Steve Lusko works for the company, and says since this story first aired they have received calls from technology officers of General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin and the biggest industrial companies in the country."

So a plan that began as welding with water has now turned into a possible fuel that can safely power vehicles.

Watch the Video.

Find this article at:
http://www.ksbitv.com/hotlinks/2856476.html

RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

Interesting. The only concerns I would have off the top of my head (I'm sure I will find others) is water and electricity do not always mix to well together (I'm concerned about the hazards of getting shocked), and could this cause an increase in water vapors leading to more rain and storms. I must admit I am completely confused by this. I'm guessing this is different than those "Fuel-Celled" cars.

RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

Typically, fuel cells create electricity by a catalayst process which involves mixing hydrogen and oxygen gas to create electricity.

I have a technical background and so I have always beena proponent of taking regular water, separating hydrogen and water and then burning the these two to burn in place of gasoline.

The problem is that it takes such a huge amount of energy to separate the 2 gases the the result is more energy going in than going out.

Well, supposedly these guys have discoved a way to to burn the hydrogen but leave it in it's water state (which is very stable and not prone to exploding like the Hindenburg) and still burn the Hydrogen.

This is cool stuff if it actually works then we would only use oil for lubricating an engine and not for fuel. He apparently was using this techology as a way to weld but when the gasollines prices went up then then he modified the process for burning in an engine. You ought to see the video, as it shows a very low temperature flame but will melt any metal which is amazing.

RE: I dont understand gas prices?
 

Well I will be interested to see how this plays out. As for right now, I would like to see an increase in the production of diesels. If Chrysler would offer that 3.0L that they are supposed to offer in the Grand Cherokee and 300 in more of their car line-up such as in the Charger, I would buy it. The MB 3.2L, which the 3.0L is supposed to replace in the 3.2L in the E-class, is one fast machine while getting amazing mileage, plus it will outlive gas engines. Bio-Diesel for me!